Creating a Universal Design

When watching Michael Nesmith's TedTalk, I found myself agreeing with every point he made.  As a deaf individual, Michael discussed the need for a universal design that allows communication and understanding between all individuals despite language differences and physical barriers.  This design would be in the form of products and/or environments that are applicable to all people and do not require adaptations/specializations for any specific population.  A design like this would eliminate what he called the "awkward dance" that takes place between people when the ability to communicate and engage with one another is unavailable.  

In my own experiences, there have been many times when I wished that I had the ability to speak other languages fluently or just well enough to briefly converse with an individual that speaks a different language.  There are not many situations that stop you in your tracks quite as strongly as encountering someone who speaks a different language and not being able to say a word to them does.  I believe Michael Nesmith's suggestion for a universal design would be monumental for people all over the world.  Such a design would break down the many barriers between people of all languages, including sign language.  


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